The Northern Pack (The Next Morning)

It was just about mid-morning. The sun had risen to its halfway point, basking Nars in a ray of golden light. Nars always prided himself on being pack leader since his father passed away, but he had since humbled down some since the events of The Great Games two springs prior. Since then, he had worked hard to rebuild his relation between his two children, Fleet and Magril.

Nars was actually grateful that his son had found a match in Claudette, the daughter of his once bitter rival Kate, although the rivalry was a bit one-sided on his part. Magril on the other hand, seemed to have serious eyes for Kate and Humphrey's eldest son, Stinky. Fleet would often complain about how his sister would never shut up about the "Future Leader of the Western Pack." Nars, however, did notice that Kate and Humphrey's youngest son, Runt, tended to keep to himself, not really pursuing any romantic relationship whatsoever.

"Nars!"

The Northern leader was pulled from his thoughts as he was approached by an older, slightly larger wolf. The wolf had very noticeable patches of grey fur in his mane and around his face, greatly contrasting with the dark brown fur with streaks of black in his mane. The wolf cream underbelly also appeared dull, as his faded brown eyes rested on Nars.

Composing himself, Nars addressed the wolf before him.

"Yes, Alan?" Said wolf glared at the so-called "leader," wondering why he even bothered to put up with him after what he did to him and his family. But, despite his feelings, Alan had to relay the message that had come in from the Western Pack.

"A messenger just arrived from the West," Alan began, his voice thick with an Irish brogue, and as Nars noted, a hint of disgust as well, "They say their scouts have captured the Rogue King of Banff and few of his wolves, and would like all pack leaders to be present for the trial and sentencing."

Nars was surprised at this news; finally the wolves of Jasper could get some closure for what King and his Rogues had pulled over the past few years.

Nodding, Nars spoke to the wolf.

"This is welcome news. Thank You Alan."

Alan simply turned on his heels with a grunt of disgust and, although Nars couldn't be sure, muttered out a statement that made Nars lower his head in guilt and shame;

"Piss off."

Looking back to the territory, Nars let out a heavy sigh as he placed himself in deep, contemplative thought.

The Western Pack

Sam and his family were being held in a den that was specially made to detain the trouble makers in Jasper. He should know; he helped dig a few dens just like it in Banff. Shortly after arriving in Jasper, Sam, Terra, Anna, and King were thrown into the den, rather forcefully, as the Western Pack healers quickly tended to a now recovering Candu.

After a few moments, the tense atmosphere intensified as the wolves standing guard at the entrance of the cave stepped aside, giving way to the entrance of the pack leaders, Winston, Eve, and Tony, as well as the former twos daughter Kate, and her mate, Humphrey. Humphrey and Sam were, to say the least, shocked to see each other, but at the same time happy that they could be reunited with their long missed friend. However, both knew the time was not right, as the elder wolves and Kate growled or glared menacingly at King.

"It wasn't enough that you kidnapped my grandpup and attacked our home," snarled Winston, "but now you have the audacity to plan such a cowardly attack on us and inure one of my best Alphas!" King shrank back, his ears flat against his head and his tail tucked between his legs.

Sam looked to his mate, who was in the process of comforting their young daughter, who at this point was very frightened by the situation at hand. Deciding to add a bit of clarity to what had happened, Sam approached the group of wolves interrogating King, the latter having been unaware of the former's presence.

"He didn't attack the Alpha," Sam said, drawing the accusing stares toward him, "I did, but only because he was going to hurt my family."

Humphrey, now accompanied by Kate, shared a surprised and rather confused stare, wondering why Candu would do such a thing, though Humphrey knew that Candu was a little rash and prone to violent outbursts.

"Well, Candu does have a tendency to jump the gun," Humphrey stated with a slight chuckle, which was accompanied by a short guffaw from Sam.

"That I have heard," Sam added, before his face took on a more solemn, yet reminiscent expression as he saw how much his grown friend greatly resembled his father.

"How are you, Humphrey?"

Humphrey soon took on the same expression as he approached his old friend and embraced him as if he were a long-lost family member, much to the shock of the elders in the cave, but not Kate, who smiled at the tender seen, as well as Terra and King, who at this point had recovered from the initial shock of being placed before his enemies.

"I'm fine, Sam." Holding his friend at arms-length, Humphrey closely examined him, smiling brightly at the wolf before him, who in turn returned the smile. Anna peaked out from around her mother, and looked at the exchange with growing curiosity. Before long, the reunion was interrupted as Tony began to speak.

"Humphrey, you know this wolf?" Looking at his friend's face, Humphrey knew that their little pup-hood excursions would best be kept on the down-low for now. Instead, Humphrey opted to tell the group what Sam, as well as Terra had done for his son three winters ago.

"Yes, he's one of the wolves who helped Runt escape from Banff three winters ago, along with his wife, who is this 'Beauty of an Alpha' right here," Humphrey explained, using his "Lockjaw" voice when he referred to Terra, who simply rolled her eyes, along with Kate and the pack leaders. King, on the other hand, scowled at the memory. Eve, her attention now drawn to the young wolf beside Terra, cautiously approached her, offering a gentle smile when the pup suddenly sunk back to her hiding space beside her mother.

"Hello little one," she greeted in a motherly way, "and who might you be?" Anna, although still very frightened, emerged from behind her mother and, with her eyes cast down, answered the wolf before her.

"I'm Anna." Eve beamed brightly at the girl, causing said teen to relax.

"What a beautiful name."

However, what Anna said next, caused the whole atmosphere of the den to turn very solemn.

"Are you going to hurt my gran-dah?"

All attention was now on King, his fear having returned full force as his eyes widened at once again being made the center of attention. Although they felt they should tell the pup the truth that King was to be tried for his crimes and most likely be sentenced to death, they couldn't put the child through such emotional turmoil. Surprisingly, the answer came from Tony.

"No, sweetie," he said, his tender inflection to the teen surprising everyone else in the den; Tony was not known to be so soft spoken. "We just want to talk to him."

In Tony's defense, it wasn't entirely a lie since they did need to get information out of King. Anna seemed to relax at the answer. Humphrey, having come up with an idea, voiced it aloud.

"Perhaps Sam, Terra, and Anna could walk around the pack for a bit," he suggested, "Since they can't possibly get into too much trouble anyway, what with this little scamp being around," he finished, ruffling Anna's mane, earning a playful giggle from the pup. Looking to each other, the pack elders nodded in agreement.

"Alright Humphrey," said Winston, "but you and Kate will be in charge of keeping an eye on them." Satisfied with the answer, Humphrey nodded to Kate, who began to lead the trio out of the cave, only to stop as Terra looked back to Humphrey.

"Oh, and Humphrey?" she inquired, gaining the wolf's attention.

"It never would have worked between us."

This earned a chuckle from everyone in the space, even King as he silently laughed to himself. Just as the party of five were about all out of the den, Anna ran back in, stopping at her grandfather as she snuggled her head into his chest.

"See you later, gran-dah."

The action, as well as what was said, seemed to break the heart of every adult in the den, as the pup had no idea what was liable to happen. Running back to her parents, Anna was finally escorted out by Humphrey and Kate. Once the party was gone, the attention of the pack leaders was now on King. What surprised King was that their eyes no longer held just anger, but also something that King noticed was just as devastating…

Pity.

The conversation between King and Anna had definitely caught the pack leaders' attention, but however upsetting it was to them, they knew what had to be done. Looking to the wolf seated before them, they could see his head and ears now lowered in submission and his tail curled protectively around his forepaws. His eyes, however, focused on the cold dirt floor of the cave, unwilling to look his captors in theirs.

Finally, having enough of just sitting quietly, Tony spoke up.

"You have some nerve showing your face around here, King," he growled, spitting out King's name as if it was venom. King flinched slightly at this, lowering his head even further, clenching his eyes shut at the severity of Tony's words.

"And the fact that your granddaughter is quite fond of you is not enough to save you from whatever punishment we see fit to give you," Eve added, glossing eyes and wavering voice betraying her look of anger. King, upon hearing this, brought his gaze up to meet that of the three Alphas before him, a gaze that they were surprised to see were full of acceptance.

"I understand," he said, his voice surprisingly calm, "Just promise me one thing."

The three wolves were quite surprised to hear this, for King was in no position to be asking for anything. However, Winston decided to humor him, nodding for King to continue. Taking a deep breath, King finally spoke.

"Promise me that the rest of my family will be spared."

The three Alpha's were shocked that King would ask for such a thing, and soon became very curious.

"Why?" inquired Tony, his voice laced with skepticism. King lowered his gaze down, a sigh escaping his mouth. after a few moments, brought his gaze back up to the Alphas.

"They had nothing to do with my actions," he began, "yes they followed my orders, but they were mine, and mine alone. I only ask that you take that into consideration. Also," he continued, his want add more to his answer catching the others attention, "Anna can live without her grandfather, but she cannot live without her parents. Please," he pleaded, his eyes brimming with tears as his voice cracked, "if not for me, do it for my dear Anna."

"Don't punish her because of the actions of an old fool."

The three Alphas exchanged looks that pretty much conveyed what they were thinking;

Shock, pity, and confusion.

Was this really the King that they had been at war with, that had kidnapped Runt, that had put them through so much turmoil?

It seemed unreal that their enemy had resigned himself to his obvious fate, while asking that they spare his family, when the King they had last seen was always so ready to throw his own subordinates under the stampede if it meant his own survival. Much to King's surprise, the three nodded in agreement. Letting out a sigh of relief, King allowed a tear to escape his eye.

"Thank you."

He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw the three smile slightly at his show of gratitude. However, the mood immediately changed as the matter of why they were there needed to be continued. Clearing his throat, Winston began to speak.

"Now, what are your plans for Jasper?"

King was confused by the question, thinking that his submission and request regarding his family was enough to convince the three wolves before him that he had changed.

Evidently not.

King's confusion became very evident by the look that developed on his face, one eye brow quirked in inquiry as he looked between the three. Eve, catching on to his hesitance, decided to clarify what her husband was asking, although a bit more gently than what was normal for her.

"We want to know why you were traveling along the mountain borders?" Looking from his wife back to King, Winston nodded for him to respond to the as of yet unanswered question. King, gulping down the nervous lump that had formed in his throat, began to speak.

"There are no plans for Jasper," he began, "We were just passing through on our way to Banff..."

"Why would you be returning to Banff?" inquired Tony, his curiosity greatly peaked. King, after taking a moment to compose himself, was about to answer. But before he could, Hutch interrupted him.

"Excuse me sir," he said, poking his head into the den. Winston, turning his attention to his second-in-command, addressed said wolf.

"Yes Hutch, what is it?" he inquired, curious as to why the wolf had arrived at such an inopportune time.

"Nars from the Northern Pack has arrived, as well as Alexander from the South."

Pleased that the other pack leaders had responded to his invitation to judge King in his trial, Winston nodded to Hutch.

"Thank You Hutch, Please send them in."

Hutch nodded as he left the den. King swallowed nervously at what the next few minutes would entail for him.

Elsewhere in Jasper, Sam, Terra, and their daughter Anna where being given a tour of the United Pack of the West and East by Sam's old pup-hood friend Humphrey, and his mate Kate. Looking around, Anna began bouncing around in excitement at the new scenery. Fresh lilies as well as other spring flora had begun to bloom. This was enough to entertain her as she greatly enjoyed looking at and smelling the flowers.

The four adults laughed and smiled at the pups antics as the two males began to catch up. Looking around, Sam also noticed how the Western territory had changed since he had last been there.

"The West has changed so much since the last time I was here," he began, looking to Kate and Humphrey, their sides pressed against each other as they walked, "In more ways than one." Humphrey and Kate both blushed at the comment, sharing a knowing smile with each other.

"Well, love conquers all," responded Kate, giggling slightly, earning a gentle nuzzle from her mate. "But yes, since the abolition of the Alpha-Omega laws, all the wolves of Jasper are free to be with whoever their hearts desire." Sam and Terra smiled at each other, although something Kate said confused them both.

"Excuse me Kate," Terra inquired, "But when you said all the wolves of Jasper, did you mean-?"

"ALL the wolves of Jasper, yes," finished Kate. "After everything that happened during and after Humphrey and I's little 'Cross-Country Adventure,' the Northern and Southern packs also agreed to abolish the laws that were separating Alphas and Omegas." Sam was especially surprised by this.

"Nars agreed to this?" inquired Sam incredulously, earning a nod from Humphrey.

"Well, not at first, but after the Great Games two springs ago, he warmed up to it. WAIT…" Humphrey said, a sudden realization forming in his mind, which caused all the wolves to focus their entire attention on him, "do you know Nars?"

Sam closed his eyes in solemn remembrance at the thought of the wolf that had driven him from his family. Terra, growing a bit concerned for her mate, rubbed her head under his chin, offering some comfort. Not wanting to leave his friends question unanswered, Samuel pulled away from his wife and began to speak.

"He sent me on the path that has lead me back to here."

After a few moments, Hutch returned, showing the way for Nars, as well as the Southern Pack leader, Alexander, a black-furred wolf with a white underbelly that had icy blue eyes that, once laid upon King, pierced into the latter's very soul. King cowered further under the intense stare.

"Nars, Alexander," Winston began, a small smile on his face, "thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Of course Winston," Nars responded, "Anything to gain justice for the wolves of Jasper."

"Especially after what this FILTH did at Caribou Mountain and the Bear Kingdom," snarled Alexander, his voice lased with contempt as he glared daggers at King, who began to shrink under the intense stares of the five wolves before him. Turning back to Winston, Alexander decided to inquire as to how much information his old friend had obtained.

"Have you found anything out?"

"Supposedly," Winston began, speaking in a hushed voice so that King couldn't hear, "he was accompanying his daughter, as well as her mate and THEIR daughter on a trip to Banff, having heard that the caribou population has returned since we captured King's forces at the Bear Kingdom; Princess, or Terra as she is calling herself now, and her mate had helped my youngest grandpup Runt escape during that episode from three winters ago I had told you about."

Alexander nodded in recollection at having been told just that. However, his sour expression still remained.

"He's lying," interjected Nars, "we all know he is planning another attack on Jasper, he's just using this 'family' thing as a cover to get to Banff in order to create another army."

Winston, although very conflicted about what had transpired just minutes prior to Nars and Alexander's arrival, could not come up with a contradictory statement. Looking to the four wolves around him, Winston then turned back to King, and sat himself a good ten feet away from said wolf, who at this point had slightly calmed down when he wasn't the direct center of attention. Winston was soon followed shortly by the remaining Pack Leaders, who sat before King in a sort of arch shape. Looking directly at King, Winston began the proceedings.

"I hereby call this trial of The Rogue King of Banff to order!"

"So Nars forced you out of the Northern Pack because you acted like an Omega?" Humphrey said, his voice filled surprise, and above all, disgust. He knew that Nars had been low, but he never knew he was low enough to banish someone for being themselves. Sam nodded solemnly in confirmation.

"And the worst part is," Sam added, "that if I didn't leave willingly, he was going to banish my whole family as well, and I couldn't do that to them, especially my sister and her condition. Because of Nars, I have a nephew or niece I have never met. You remember Allison don't you Humphrey?" Sam inquired, a mischievous smirk forming on his face. Humphrey blushed, a sheepish smile on is muzzle. Kate, intrigued by whoever this Allison was, decided to pry, though with a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"Who's Allison, Humphrey?"

Sam, deciding he didn't want to get his friend in trouble with his mate, decided to answer for him.

"She's my older sister, and let's just say, Humphrey and the guys had a heck of a crush on her when we were little."

Humphrey was relieved to see his wife relax at the revelation that Allison was just a one-sided pup-hood crush. However, upon rolling the name around in her head, she came to a very sudden realization.

"You're Samuel, Alan and Amelia's son?"

Sam solemnly nodded. Kate soon took on a caring smile as she moved closer to the sorrowful wolf before her.

"You know," she continued, her playful tone getting Sam's attention, "I've heard that they just love smothering their grandson."

Sam's head soon snapped up at the word "grandson."

"You m-mean," he stuttered out, earning a chorus of chuckles from the other wolves present, "I have a nephew?"

Kate smiled warmly and nodded, leading to her being enveloped in what could easily be the biggest bear-hug she had ever had in her life. Releasing Kate, Sam's mind began to race with questions.

"What's his name?" he inquired, wanting to learn it quickly for when ever got the chance to meet his nephew in the future. Kate smiled, as she looked to her husband, nodding for him to tell his old friend the good news, which caused a broad smile to form on Sam's face.

"Allison and Ewan named him Collin."

The Holding Den- One Hour Later

The trial was over.

The Verdict: GUILTY.

The tribunal of five wolves had gathered information that revealed the extent of King's actions, as well as his plans from three years ago, ensured even more devastation than they had thought.

King, with his conquest of Caribou Mountain, had planned to expand his Alpha Empire throughout Jasper, eliminating all those who would dare oppose him along the way. Listening to himself recount his plans to his captors, King himself began to realize that they were the nonsensical ravings of a lunatic mind, destined to fail before he could even get his plan's paws off the ground. The tribunal then questioned what his plans were if his attack on Jasper had failed. King informed them that he would continue to conquer neighboring territories until his forces were once again strong enough to attempt another attack.

However, after the battle between the Rogues of Banff and the United Forces of the Western Pack and their Bear allies, the moral of the remaining Rogues that had not been captured quickly collapsed, with almost all of them realizing it was a lost cause, which resulted in a subsequent vote to disband the pack, save for Hench.

All this information, combined with his crimes against the Western Pack leaders and their family was all the tribunal needed to determine Kings guilt. Despite his pleas that he had changed and that he wanted to be there for his new family, King's pleas had no effect on Nars or Alexander, who readily declared him guilty of his crimes.

All that remained was sentencing.

"Well?" Inquired Nars, after the tribunal had left the den to discuss what King's sentence should be, although a good majority knew what it eventually would come down to.

"He is clearly deranged, and a great danger to us all," added Alexander. Winston looked to his mate and brother-in-law, all three saddened at the fact that young Anna would have to bear the reality of losing her grandfather.

Knowing that very little would change Nars and Alexander's minds, Winston, Eve, and Tony silently nodded their heads in agreement.

As Nars and Alexander left the area to prepare for King's execution, the three remaining Alphas looked back to the den, focusing on the slumped form of King, his ears lowered in shame as his tail lay limp at his side. It was at that moment that Winston actually came to accept that what King had told them about him being changed...

Was true.

Winston didn't have to look at Tony and Eve to know that they felt the same. Winston's mind then returned to the young pup he had only just met about an hour ago.

"That poor girl," he whispered, comforting his wife as she suppressed a sob at the very mention of the young wolf.

"This will break her heart."